Piper Navajo - Twin Engine Beast - Panther Conversion

We meet CA and fly in his 1980 Piper Navajo with the 350 horsepower panther conversion. It really was a treat flying in this twin engine beast.
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[@wendyjohns4667]

My mother, Ellie Maddox, was the first woman to be rated in a Navajo. She met Mr. Piper in Pennsylvania. My father flew and sold airplanes. We had so much fun flying. She was a member of the Ninety Niners. And she could do it all. A great pilot, baker, could cook like a gourmet cook, sew, knit, crotchet, needlepoint, paint, fix most things. She was the best. Gosh, how I miss her. ❤ The Navajo was a great plane and Mom mastered it also.

[@Virtualmix]

43 gal/hr, ouch! Great airplane and great pilot, thanks for sharing the flight with us!

[@dieselyeti]

Turboprops are worse. They eat fuel and smile.

[@josephc.9520]

Yes the iv-p literally has one of the engines mounted on this thing and flies so much faster

[@KutWrite]

Hot looking passenger in back, too!

[@Agwings1960]

And thats about half of what turbine engines would burn.

[@christianjforbes]

43 gph … 1200lbs … 180kts There’s a few singles that’ll do very close to this at half fuel burn or better

[@CharleyAlphaAviation]

It was a pleasure flying with you.

[@DOMINICAAVIATION]

You have an awesome channel!

[@nunyabuizness2953]

That plane is beautiful. Those engines sound like monsters.

[@ldoyle3rd]

Was just thinking have not seen any recent videos from Charley Alpha lately and CA pops up on Flying Doodles! It was great to hear the backstory on his company and his family's flying background, they deserve way more subscribers as flying for business is not something widely covered in KZbin.

[@davidjohnson3166]

ldoyle3rd - You bring up a great point. My last business Airccraft was Beechcraft Travelair and prospective clients thought it cool when I could easily offer services into their 2500 foot airport; made them feel special, (which they were); ‘cause it paid for my plane. Dave in Phoenix Arizona USA

[@dancahill9122]

@@davidjohnson3166 Agreed. A plane can actually pay for itself in a lot of small to medium size businesses if the clients are spread out. Even in real estate, if you're a small to medium investor (like apartment complexes).

[@fargknob]

She looks great. I earned my A&P at Colemil working on all his conversions...but the Navajo is my favorite. It's one tough bird. Enjoy my friend.

[@jaimefabrega9635]

I had a Piper Navajo Panther and was a great airplane. I flew it all around the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Florida. A fantastic airplane!

[@harveygablatz5839]

YES SIR A REAL MONEY MAKER WHITE LIGHTNIN

[@randyporter3491]

Great video ! Thanks Bobby, for bringing us along and a big thanks to C.A. for a look at this really nice workhorse ! I got a little bit of time in a 414 long ago, but never a Navajo. Always wondered about the performance differences at the time. Safe skies guys ! 🇺🇸

[@ts1ezrdr]

A Navajo with the Panther conversion is one of my dream planes. If I ever hit the lotto, one of my first calls would be to Mike Jones for one of his Lock & Key models.

[@IlIlIlIlIlIlIlIl-v9h]

tracy moore lock and key is a beauty

[@dantellewisham133]

There is a Chieftain with a Panther conversion for sale in Australia right now

[@JamminJere]

Two of my favorite channels together... Thanks for looking up Charley Alpha and having CA on Flying Doodles.. CA is one of my favorite pilots on KZbin. He does a terrific job!

[@adampennington8954]

"Affordable" lol. I hope to one day share the same sentiment.

[@toadamine]

Compared to buying and operating a Boeing 737... lol

[@PRMarshall]

Every vid I saw said it’s affordable😂

[@trilogy3x]

You have to make 6-7 figures and have money stacked up from good investments to afford one I should be making 6 figures soon and I’m investing heavy to get my money right to buy one.

[@superskullmaster]

@@trilogy3x I wouldn’t waste your money on a old plane even if you think you like the looks.

[@trilogy3x]

@@superskullmaster not really a waste of money they last a long time and are easier to get into price wise and insurance will be cheaper also. If people didn’t buy older planes nobody would actually be able to fly general aviation unless they millionaires

[@fargknob]

Awesome airplane CA....I started pulling wrenches at Colemil in 1979. Bill Colbert hired me and gave me my start towards my A&P ticket. The Panther was the best conversion.....converted them for over 3 yrs.....even got a little stick time too. :O) Enjoy her my friend. Thanks for the video.

[@billjobes1851]

What a beautiful aircraft ! Outside and in -- love the panel. Thanks for the talk and the tour.

[@patbarrett9263]

what a beautiful plane, thanks for the ride.wish I was still in the sky(medical reasons)I miss my old Mooney.

[@TheSteelerider]

Beautifully rugged, working aircraft. It even sounds tough when it starts up.

[@JohnS916]

The right engine loped like a Chevy 409

[@markburkley42]

Thanks for the great video. Brought back memories flying T-28B/C in VT-3 at NAS Whiting 45+ yrs ago. Still miss flying.

[@websurfer44]

I'm glad you got flying back into your videos Bobby. Sorry you had to give it up but most of us would never have met you if you hadn't had a problem.

[@billiondollardan]

I looked up his company on the polo shirt. The video on his homepage shows him demonstrating the toughness of the instruments he manufactures by dragging the sensor through the mud, running over it with a truck, and shooting it with a shotgun AND a rifle. I'd work for this guy! lol

[@FlyingDoodles]

Haha wow

[@CharleyAlphaAviation]

billiondollardan thanks. It is kind of hard to make in line density instruments interesting. We try. 😀

[@KutWrite]

I was thinking "ex-Marine."

[@davecrupel2817]

@@CharleyAlphaAviation As an A&P, i would accept running a compinent over with a truck as a certification of airworthiness! If it was legal. 😂 And how does the Navajo hold up as a contender against it's Cessna 400 series cousins? The 402, 411, 414, 421, etc?

[@heavyizthacrown-5842]

That twin definitely looked stable, seems like there’s no fighting with the wind. 🌬🚫 Great airplane, beautiful landing! 👍🏾

[@michaelbickley5933]

000⁰0000000000⁰0

[@wendellmoeller6788]

I picked up our companies new Navajo CR at the factory in 1982, on my birthday. Great airplane, loved it. If I hit the lotto I'll get my own.....

[@Conorkc86]

CA sounds like an absolute gent and what a beautiful plane he has!

[@AmericanAbsolute]

Pretty is for shows.. Rugged is for work! I like his attitude..straight up and to the point, no nonsense pilot. Would love to have him as an instructor.. 😎👍

[@trackthismotherfuckers9805]

Love your videos. The best aviation channel that covers every make and model! Cheers from Australia 👍✈

[@FlyingDoodles]

Thank you!

[@donaldclark8692]

I've Worked on these ,Panthers and Regulars For 38 years.Also Aerostars As a Small A/P ,All the way to Director of maint.Back in the Day working with The DEA in miami. In 1979 thru 1983 We recovered 22 Navajo, Landed,Abandoned. Or off field putdowns.Shes a rugged beast.and by far my Favorite.

[@kevindriggars591]

Awesome drug runner plane lol 😆 😄 🤣 Ol Barry Seal loved those panther conversions and Q tips 😀

[@MichaelLloyd]

I used to get to ride in the right seat of a P Navajo. That and a ride in a Mooney got me to start lessons. That was a long time ago. I really like both channels. Well done

[@TheSilmarillian]

Landing right on the piano keys great landing thanks for the upload new to your channel hello from Australia

[@FlyingDoodles]

Thanks for watching !

[@mrkmwatson]

Love that Laura chimes in. Makes me jealous that I don’t fly anymore and get to live vicariously through the life of others.

[@JimmyMitchell-Lucky]

Great video Bobby! Complicated but very smooth! Glad to hear Laura!

[@ethanhiggins4887]

that guy perfectly described my childhood experience with airplanes. learned how to fly via instruments at like age 10

[@mikemcpherson5550]

I've flown the Navajo many hours. Worked my way up from a Tomahawk in 1976. Transition from a Turbo Aztec and it was a nothing transition. What a pleasure to fly. A good friend said they do a nice aileron roll too. Couldn't tell you personally though.

[@Bartonovich52]

Just about any airplane can. It’s four point hesitation rolls where twins don’t typically do so well-especially if they have tip tanks.

[@judgetk8327]

Nice plane CA. Great video Mr. Doodles. The pilot seems like a great guy.

[@carlospaniagua1001]

That sound... of those twin 350’s, there is nothing in the world like it, specially at T/O. Love it!

[@FrozenCrapholeDweller]

Love that Hylas polo, sir. My favorite blue water sailing vessels. Way to represent!

[@bernardanderson7569]

Great you all had fun flying with CA

[@BetweenLayersAviation]

Nice twin! The engine conversion is a great upgrade but seems to be a thirsty bird!

[@MarkSmith-zt2zl]

44-45 gallons an hour at 70%. Wanna go fast? Buy gas.

[@danroll81]

Really nice to see an aircraft to be truly used to improve business! This one looks like a workhorse with nice updated avionics!

[@tantalumCRAFT]

Great video, love the Navajo and also love the sound of the fuel static line in the background at the start of the video. Makes me feel like I'm there

[@SyberPrepper]

Really enjoyed the video. CA did a great job flying with all the distractions. Great airplane. It was great to hear about the missions profiles, speeds, altitudes, distances. Great vid. Thanks.

[@CreepinCreeper145]

Awesome Panther Navajo, Carl!

[@stratocrewzr]

Spent more than 900 hours driving these all over Alaska. A very true and solid workhorse.

[@waynem4844]

Im a sailing doodles fan...now I guess I'm a flying fan too! Nice video Bobby.

[@terriecotham1567]

My first job in aviation was at Colmill Ent the birth place of the Panther it was quiet a learning place for a kid just out of the service Love the new avionics but all love the Copilots panel with the king KCS 55 and the KFC 200 Autopilot a Colemill install in many Panthers Yes quite a place to work and the avionics shop had some first class teachers its nice to see the Panther is alive and well and Mike Jones aircraft has it down when it comes to up dates Saw more than one of the Colemill Panthers setting in DEA sells as there performance was quiet good at getting out of dirt runways or that's what i was told Thanks for the video and it looks like you have a first class aircraft as well

[@kennedy.nola_]

Great video, probably my favorite. Keep up the good work!

[@donaldclark8692]

Nice thing about her,Is rite behind him.Are the Lamar voltage regulators. One carrys the load the other is dialed in ,To two volts over the jumps in to pickup. Most folks freak out at nite seeing glowing hot turbos. But the overhead switches where a real nice treat about her.

[@rivirme]

Such great videos Bobby; that camera under the tail is spectacular, so clear for the scenery and it's relationship to the plane.

[@MattMorris481]

Those Q-tip props may not be as affective as we once thought, but they sure look cool, and those high horse power 540’s have great sound.

[@timmotel5804]

Excellent video. Great plane and pilot. Thank you both. Safe Skies

[@robboinnz]

Love the videos, be great to see the cabins as well.

[@simoncorporation3]

You have an informative channel I like seeing the flights.

[@tonybaird7710]

Good looking Columbia in the background. My first photo bomb. Another great video Bobby and you married UP btw!!!

[@FlyingDoodles]

Haha was great to meet you!

[@B1970T]

Gorgeous bird. Lovely panel!

[@da20eclipse]

One of your best video’s Bobby and hats off to CA on an awesome twin. He also shows how GA aircraft are beneficial to some businesses, often forgotten. Thanks, keep em coming!

[@fargknob]

In 1978, I started my A&P training at Colemil....Bill was quite the businessman for sure. We converted just about every Navajo on the planet it seemed...lol. Love that airplane. Russ Hancock was the chief pilot then and he could make her dance. The strangest thing I remember, was seeing one test ship with a turboprop on one side, and an 8 cyl on the other...sure wanted to see that fly. :O) Wish I could own one now.

[@alvinsimmons7352]

Well Done, both Flying & Video!

[@johnmcdevitt3683]

Outstanding! Thanks CA Q Tip Props very interesting.

[@RegularGuy76]

Spotted the nurse back there!! Please don’t forget to feature here more..........

[@ik04]

We flew the Navajo CR in Alaska and it was a workout with constant power, prop, mixture and cowl flap adjustments during aerial tours!

[@AFatWhiteShark]

That was Barry Seal's favorite plane for smuggling; Those propellers with the Q-tip on them for a nice silence covert flight.

[@EastBayBlue]

I did a lot of 135 Air Taxi in a Navajo Chieftain. Great plane, very solid instrument platform.

[@thoonth]

Buddy this plane is cool... I like it very much..There is a zebra girl in the back seat. 😯

[@thunderstruck5484]

Thanks for another great flying doodle, Twins are always impressive and the pilots are always very knowledgeable about their airplane

[@JLSAUNDERS72]

As a mechanic and pilot... this guy makes great decisions and understands how to run a business for opportunities and operations... from Arlington Area... I was wondering if I can use his machine to test the optimal sugar content for my drinks... teas, coffee and soda etc...😀

[@hattrickpsh]

Another nice video with another cool plane.

[@archjen]

Great presentation and review! Thanks!

[@motor2of7]

I love 4 blade props. They just look “right”.

[@kennethclower3416]

I really like the pilots clear and concise radio voice unlike some that babble and mumble thinking they are cool

[@robertworley2262]

The Panther conversion Navajo has been a favorite of multi pilots for years. Drug runners loved it for its load carrying & range. I got my multi from Colemill in one of their converted Barons. All the conversions made the performance on 1 or 2 engines much better. If you need a workhorse with extra safety margins, find one of these.

[@robertslaughter7044]

I can't stand Barons... Yuck...

[@kennyj4366]

Oh yeah, nice flight, nice bird.

[@donaldparlettjr3295]

A friend flew the same plane and it was a wonderful acft. It's a workhorse, not sexy but probably the best blend of everything wanted for a twin. The Q-tip. Blades are quieter than standard blades.

[@petercawley8444]

Another great flight. Nice to see Laura on board and she'd like to "drive" … lol

[@daszieher]

Some people call everything driving. I call every vehicle a car. Even an 80000lb semi or a tank. Well the latter would be a "thick-skinned car", of course.

[@renatoroberto]

It is good to see that this aircraft still fly at USA, and are very reliable there. Here in Brazil, he often was called "Mata 7", wich means "kill 7", due to accidents with this model of aircraft.

[@quinnjim]

A lot has to do with lack of proper maintenance in Brazil along with poor pilot training and challenging terrain. Accident rates on all types are higher down in Brazil.

[@spike7112ify]

That was the most tv friendly way to put it XD

[@OutdoorsWithChad]

2500' field is tight for a Navajo! I really hope you never experience an engine failure on takeoff. Love those planes though. Flying the 'ho was one of my favourite times.

[@mattipollari8905]

I did my instrument rating on the PA-31. It was a great little aircraft, and I flew a lot of charter with the different models. The airframe is very robust, and I operated it out of 3000 feet regularly, including hot and heavy.

[@jaydenchandler7206]

Wow just realized this is the airport right next to my house, KGKY, wow I remember when I was younger me and my grandpa sitting there watching for hours planes take off and land, wow

[@marknisbet1990]

Hey Bobby thanks for great video bought back a lot of good memories fling one of those nearly 40 years ago

[@markehark]

Nice to see Laura sitting in the back and going along with you Bob!

[@Lacquerhead-TX]

Always loved the Navajo. I once wrote a business plan using Navajos for Part 134. Thankfully I got another job instead. :) I still want a Navajo for myself though. Panthers are bestest!

[@scheusselmensch5713]

Great airplane, I have around 6000 hours on PA 31s. Only reservation I've ever had is turning loose pilots who don't understand engines and their proper handling. A numbnut can burn up a couple of TIO-540s in a very short period of time. Well handled Navajo engines will go 3000 hours with one top overhaul, in my experience.

[@martycan444]

I got to fly in the original panthers ,colemill enterprises nashville tn. Russel Hancock, won the paris airshow race and the plane has held many world records

[@DKoppJr]

I even enjoy that and I was not really there...... Great video!!!

[@cwhitty05]

Its been awhile, so my math might be a little fuzzy, but if you’ve got Gamijectors and a good engine monitor, you can run them about 125° lean of peak and burn around 30gph at 70% power, which will get you in the neighborhood of 185-190ktas around 10k feet. The best part of that, is your cylinders will be below 400°. They are cooking at 435°!!! They run decent lean of peak. The only thing I noticed, is the spark plugs tend to wear out a little faster. It wasn’t uncommon to need a plug here and there every couple hundred hours.

[@garycooper7959]

Great plane and flying with Will Ferrell was a real treat!

[@av8rbri473]

Cool vid. The “civilian” model you’re talking about though is the 609. I used to fly out of GKY and saw the V-22’s taxing in the air just like a reg plane taxis on the grnd to the runway; super epic machine

[@BrianJohnson-cj8xf]

I flew the highest time Piper Navajo in the world for a while in Northwestern Ontario, I think it had about 8700 hours on it. Anyway I enjoyed he video .... love the plane ... they are awesome in icing .... great on gravel runways ... that plane looks like a lot of fun !!!! I'd take it up and kick the rudders on that ... great job

[@timsaxer6442]

Not even close to high time! Warbelow's out of Fairbanks retired a plane about a year ago with 39,000 hours on the airframe.

[@keithexum7312]

I have maintained these PA-31’s. Solid plane thirsty but solid and roomy.

[@kathleenlinnell4494]

Beautiful ❣️ Thanks For Sharing 💞 Happy Safe 🛫

[@tjjoseph333]

Another great video. Great radio work from C.A.

[@okoboji2001]

Mike Jones out in Murfreesboro, TN is the guy to call for all your Piper Navajo needs.

[@fxpthl]

That's the first time I've seen Laura on board with you Bobby, so thank you for that! She is still beautiful even seated way in the back! This fellow was an obvious pro at what he does but man did he talk fast!

[@dancahill9122]

Yup. CA is definitely a pro. And he's got a whole lot (a shit load !😈) of hrs under his belt. And even more experience on top of that. Like he said, he was very fortunate to come from an aviation family. I can't even imagine (essentially) flying IFR before he could even see over the panel ! !

[@petermendoza1170]

Great demo👍

[@bernardanderson7569]

The Panther is the beast of all Muti engine Aircraft

[@eliabzizelman5445]

Man that Navajo looks sweet!!!

[@Nadie-xy3cz]

1:16 So funny…same as me. I was eight and used the instruments to make turns cause the Piper Dakota’s dash was so high.

[@beaterstang0898]

I really enjoy your videos you do an excellent job, not to mention I love Navajo's. Would be pretty neat if you could get a video of a Beech Starship.

[@soonerjontheconservative636]

I was lucky enough to make an emergency landing in a Navajo in Holbrook in 1988 after loosing the right engine.

[@_multiverse_]

Sooner Jon The Conservative That just happened to me last year. Frozen crank case vent lead to the failure of a mag gasket.

[@JohnS916]

@@_multiverse_ I get the impression after watching quite a few twin-engine videos, there is justifiable anxiety of losing an engine on takeoff. Reminded me of another video about the early P38 Lightings having rollover tendencies under similar circumstances. I believe part of the solution was better pilot training. At least today you have access to simulator training I think. Bottom line, my take is you better ingrain the recovery process as an auto-response reaction. Excellent video, but with most of these short flying demonstrations, there sure is a lot to going on in the cockpit, much less trying to respond to the interviewer's comments at the same time.

[@dancahill9122]

@@JohnS916 Another good reason to do short field take offs all the time ! If you ever have "an engine out" you've got a little bit more time to react. Stay safe folks !

[@dancahill9122]

This brings to mind an awesome statistic on SIM training. My small community (CFI)has a local company that does SIM training for the public sector. I was lucky enough to talk to one of their managers and/or instructors a few years ago. I asked him how much safer a pilot was, that had SIM training. I figured 100 or maybe even 200 times safer. He told me that insurance companies consider a pilot that has (probably consistent ?) SIM training to be 1000 TIMES SAFER ! !

[@kevinnicolay5331]

Thanks guys for the ride,very enjoyable!

[@Spyke-lz2hl]

My dream airplane!!! I love those things! Great video as always, love this format!

[@Heathfx5]

Every time the camera cut to that prop i was like…propstrike! Oh wait, it was made that way.

[@tinmisuun]

Love watching that gear move! Thank you!